Co-op Spotlight: Aramark at Lincoln Financial Field

Rhian Johnson with Swoop after the NFC championship game. 

The days of Drexel University student Rhian Johnson’s co-op with Aramark as a suite supervisor lasted a bit longer into 2025 than she might’ve expected at first, but as a Philadelphia Eagles fan, she’s not complaining.

For her second co-op, Johnson, communication ’27 in the College of Arts and Sciences, worked game days at Lincoln Financial Field during the Eagles 2024–25 season, helping run daily operations for suites. She also worked other events at the stadium, like Temple University’s football game days and non-sports events as well.

Aramark runs food and beverage (catering and concessions) at the stadium for the team, so Johnson’s job involved setting up the suites for guests on that level. That means making sure they have everything they need to enjoy their time at the Linc as well as ensuring completed orders for food and beverages, including special requests like dietary restrictions or allergies.

“Throughout the week, I set up that important information for contacts and the suite attendants, making sure that the orders are proper and that we address any comments or concerns,” Johnson said. “On game days, I get there about six hours before the game starts, so they’re long days, and until kickoff, I’m running around making sure things are going smoothly.”

She has to communicate with the head of suites, who is her boss, as well as the kitchen, to make sure everyone gets what they need. During a game, she has to be ready to put out metaphorical fires as they happen, which requires her to be quick on her feet — figuratively and literally.

So every time the Eagles brought their playoff journey back to the Linc, she was there. After the Eagles won the National Football Conference (NFC) championship game to make it to the Super Bowl, she’d already been at the Linc for nearly 13 hours, but stayed even later to go down onto the field and celebrate.

“The crowds were definitely more crazy, but behind the scenes, things were running a lot more smoothly than in the [regular season],” Johnson said. “Game days were easier, but it was a crazy turn-around, because there were seven home games in eight weeks, which meant we were working six to seven days a week and then just getting back at it doing the same thing. It was a lot of work.”

She’s had some cool experiences on game days and while working at the stadium. Legendary Eagles center Jason Kelce and Kylie Kelce were just walking around one day, and she once greeted former Eagles running back Brian Westbrook’s young son without knowing who he was. The starstruck feeling of seeing famed athletes (and even Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro once, when he was attending the Eagles-Steelers game) hasn’t worn off, nor has the impact of the events she works at.

“It was my third day working, and we were doing catering for an event with the Ronald McDonald House,” Johnson said. “[Eagles defensive end] Brandon Graham gave a really moving speech, and some of the kids spoke and it was a really moving event. If it’s not game day, there are always other things going on.”

Johnson’s concentration is in public relations, and she’s also working on a minor in sports management through the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business. Her goal is to go into the sports industry and one day run events for a team, like the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer Night. Her co-op experience is helping her get there.

“I want to help create those amazing memories for families and guests,” Johnson said. “I had my best memories growing up when I was at a hockey game with my family or a football game with my dad. I want to help create those memories for others.”

Her first co-op was also focused on hospitality; she worked for Comcast giving tours for schools, new employees and others in the company’s Center City buildings. She had to welcome guests and answer their questions, which she said helped her with public speaking, talking with strangers and delegating tasks.

“They were very different roles in terms of the work environments, but they were similar in that you want to be accommodating and make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible,” Johnson said.

She’s learned a lot from her long days with Aramark — not only about what she wants her future career to look like, but also about learning to hold her own as a woman in an industry like sports that skews heavily male. Johnson has built confidence as she’s learned how to make sure she’s not being devalued in her industry. Coping with her co-op’s schedule also required a learning curve. It can be chaotic and hard to take care of yourself when you’re working 12- or 13-hour days — or more.

Hockey is her favorite sport overall, but football is fun to follow, especially in Philly. Though she’s from North Jersey and actually grew up rooting for the New England Patriots, Johnson was converted to Eagles fandom during her first year at Drexel, which was 2022–23 — also known as the last time the Eagles went to the Super Bowl. She’ll be watching this year, hoping for a better outcome this time.

“I think being here in the city at that time and seeing the fan base and how passionate everyone in really made me love the team,” Johnson said. “I’m really hoping for a win. I think they have a really good shot this year.”